Hokies Qb Takes Blame For Loss

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Grant Noel threw as many interceptions Saturday as completions -- four. He lost a fumble and buckled under Miami's pass rush five times.

So if you're intent on assigning blame for Virginia Tech's 26-24 defeat at Lane Stadium, Noel suggests you start, and end, with him.

"The team played with great heart today," he said. "I played terrible. If I had played well, we'd have won the game. You watched the game. You know what happened."

What happened was Noel committed all five Hokies turnovers in an excruciating regular-season finale against the nation's top-ranked team. What happened was a sellout crowd of 53,662 serenaded him with boos several times.

"I deserved it," Noel said. "I played like ... "

Fill in your own expletive.

Indeed, it was the worst performance of Noel's first season as a starter. Then again, it came against a defense that led Division I-A in fewest points allowed.

Noel completed 4 of 16 passes for a paltry 82 yards. He threw two interceptions in each half, and his final pick came with 4 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Tech at Miami's 49-yard line.

"I put way too much pressure on myself," Noel said. "Things didn't go well at first, and I lost my confidence."

Actually, Noel completed two of his four throws, including a 42-yarder to fullback Jarrett Ferguson that set up Carter Warley's 27-yard field goal. But of his final 12 passes, six were incomplete, four intercepted, and two were completed.

"We're certainly not looking to blame," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "But we just need to make better decisions."

Noel's five turnovers led to 10 Miami points, but Beamer never seriously considered going to backup Bryan Randall, a freshman. Noel, a junior with the chore of succeeding Michael Vick, remains the starter headed to the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl against Florida State.

"I think the thing for us to do is to look back and see why, and for him to become a better quarterback," Beamer said. "Miami's fast enough without him speeding it up by being concerned about too many things."

David Teel writes for the Newport News Daily Press, a Tribune Co. newspaper.